Ardee’s late rally earns no reward
ARDEE CELTIC TRIM CELTIC 0 1
A LATE Ardee Celtic rally, during which they had the ball in the net for what they thought was an equaliser, was ultimately in vain as they suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of Trim Celtic at Townparks on Sunday morning.
It was the home side who started the brighter as they won an early free kick for a foul on Gareth Kane, but Robbie Reynolds couldn’t lift the ball over the Trim wall. Then James McMullen and Mikey Nulty combined well, only for Nulty’s shot to be blocked.
There was little to separate the sides as the half progressed, with chances few and far between, although Trim threatened from two free kicks, one of which was cleared at the back post by an Ardee head and the second claimed by keeper Declan Butler.
The Deesiders finally tested Danny Connell in the Trim goal on 17 minutes when McMullen turned his marker cleverly but could only fire straight at the keeper.
On the half-hour, Conor Lynch’s men weathered a five-minute spell of pressure, clearing consecutive corners and then a free kick which was poorly executed by Trim.
Just before the interval Butler was quick off his line to intercept a through-ball and the Trim midfielder could only shoot over the bar thereafter.
The only goal of the game arrived on 53 minutes when Derek Donohoe positioned himself at the back post for a set piece and on this occasion had time to take a touch and fire high above Butler.
There was nearly an instant response from Ardee when a fingertip save by Connell denied McMullen from a superb free kick, but Connell’s opposite Butler was also on hand to deny Donohoe a second goal, saving brilliantly.
The Ardee keeper also showed quick reactions to stop teammate Ciaran Clarke’s misplaced pass from crossing the line.
Two late efforts from former League of Ireland star John Flanagan for Ardee proved to be in vain, as first his header was saved and then he had the ball in the back of the net, only for the officials to deem him to be offside.
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